Vietnam integrated resort The Grand Ho Tram will be permitted to allow locals to gamble in its casino under a 5-year pilot program proposed by the country’s Ministry of Finance.
According to information released by Vietnamese-language media and confirmed by Inside Asian Gaming, the proposal pushes for an extension to the pilot program that concluded at Phu Quoc’s Corona Resort & Casino earlier this year by adding two more casinos in Ho Tram and Van Don to the trial.
However, the Van Don casino project is at least seven years from opening after only last month receiving development approval.
That leaves Ho Tram, first opened in 2013, as just the second casino-resort to be given permission to welcome local players pending final sign-off by the Ministry of Justice and the Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Finance has proposed for Ho Tram to take part in the latest pilot program for eligible Vietnamese citizens for a period of five years from the date of operation.
This would follow on from the previous pilot undertaken by Corona Resort & Casino from January 2019 until end-2024. That initial pilot saw limited success given pandemic interruption and the absence of any significant locals market on the holiday island of Phu Quoc.
Recent media reports have hinted at significant changes to Vietnam’s casino policy, including the removal of mandated proof of income requirements and the introduction instead of an entry fee of VND2.5 million (US$100) for each 24-hour period of casino access or VND50 million (US$2,000) per month.
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